Welsh Journals

from 1250 and the other ascribed to the first part of the seventeenth century, and so they appear in Speed's Map of Cardigan (1610). As to the maces, it seems that they were presented by James Phillips of Tregibby, Cardigan (husband of 'The Matchless Orinda '), and contain an inscription to that effect. They have hollow heads with movable covers, each cover bearing the cipher C.R.' (Carolus Rex-Charles I) and the Royal Arms. The cover of the smaller has hatched on it the date 1647. The sides (quartered) contain respectively a rose,a thistle, a harp, and a fleur-de-lys in bold relief, each surmounted by a crown. The larger has the letters C.R.' in each quarter. Each mace is 24 ins. long the head of one is 3 J ins. in diameter and 3 ins. long, whilst the head of the other measures 2 ins. by 3 ins. There is to each mace a silver handle of 10 inches and ebonite of 14 inches. It appears that one of the maces was at one time lost and was recovered by a former mayor from a London broker's shop. Cardigan. D. J. M. PEREGRINE. TWO ABERYSTWYTH BENEFACTORS 1. HENRY BENSON IN the List of Householders in the Aberystwyth Guide of 1816 are the following names Henry Benson, North Parade, Wine & Spirit Merchant. Williams & Benson, Wine & Spirit Merchants, and Discount Office, of Little Darkgate Street. Henry Benson came to Aberystwyth from the North Country, was twice mayor of the borough, in 1816 and 1832, and has an interesting history. He was the son of Prebendary Benson of Canterbury Cathedral by his first wife, the second wife being a daughter of the Earl of Tankerville, of the family of the Duke of Northumberland. The boy was unhappy with his step-mother and ran away to join the Navy. He was with Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen. Subsequently young Benson settled in Aberystwyth, at first in Pier Street. He married a daughter of Glanrheidol, a great-aunt of the late Henry Bonsall, J.P., of Cwm and Pendibyn, who was named Henry after him. Mrs. Benson was a sister of James Hughes, Glanrheidol, one of the founders of the firm of Roberts & Evans who still carry on a flourishing practice in the town. Henry Benson became the sole proprietor of the Wine & Spirit and Discount Office business and on his death it was taken over by his confidential clerk, Joseph Downie, the Discount Office part forming the nucleus of the large business developed by the National Provincial Bank of England, first under the management of Downie and afterwards under that of David Jones. Benson is buried near what is now the main entrance to the Parish Hall. 2. JOSEPH DOWNIE (1812­187o) Joseph Downie came to Aberystwyth from the Scottish Border as a clerk to Henry Benson, of Williams & Benson, Wine & Spirit Merchants and Discount Office, in Little Darkgate Street, now Eastgate. On the latter's death the business was taken over by Downie, who lived with his mother and sister in the premises now occupied by the St. David's Club, adjoining Downie's Vaults.